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Published on March 24, 2008

As Thailand strives to become the Detroit of Asia, Thai car and accessories makers have urged the government to encourage the establishment of the first-ever Automotive Research and Testing Centre.

The centre would promote the research and development of cars and auto parts as well as decrease production costs as Thailand loses millions of baht every year in sending cars and accessories for testing overseas.

"We need the government's support to initiate the project, as it will require financial support as well as government cooperation to adopt technology from overseas," said Prasartsilp On-Aht, president of the Thai Auto-Parts Manufacturers Association.

The association has teamed up with related institutes - the Thai Automotive Institute, the Thai Automobile Industry Association and the Thailand Society of Automotive Engineers - and will soon meet with Industry Minister Suwit Khunkitti to purpose the plan to the government.

Representatives from the industry have already purposed the plan to several governments, but it has not been approved. Prasartsilp said that the country really needs the centre now, as Thailand's competitors have their own auto research and testing centres to facilitate industry growth.

Without the plan, the development of the Thai automotive industry will be delayed for lack of research information, plus higher expenses to send cars and accessories for testing overseas, he said.

About Bt8 billion would be required to set up the research centre and race course for car testing.

Prasartsilp said that the government should set aside about Bt2

billion for the first phase of construction. For the remaining amount, private enterprises will try to allocate funds to establish the centre.

The centre should occupy a three square kilometre area near Bangkok as many car assembly plants and accessories factories are located there.

In addition, the association has also called for the education, labour, and industry ministries to increase the number of skilled workers to supply the industry's expansion.

By 2015, the industry will need an additional 150,000 workers, as it is expected to achieve production of 2.5 million cars per year. Currently, there are about 200,000 workers in the industry.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation